Young Lives Academy - Year 2

We have kicked off Hendrick's Kindergarten/First Grade year! It's a tad early, but we are planning to work slowly as the baby's due date approaches. His course lineup for this year:

• 1st grade Math (K-12)
• 1st grade Language Arts and Phonics (K-12)
• 1st grade Handwriting Without Tears
• K Art (K-12)
• K Music (K-12)
• History (Sonlight) - 1st semester
• Bible (Sonlight)
• Science (Sonlight) - 1st semester

We started the Sonlight material in Hendrick's pre-school/kindergarten year and plan to finish it during the first school semester...and then for the 2nd semester, transition to Tapestry of Grace for the classics (History, Handwriting, Reading, Read-Alouds) and God's Design for Life for Science. Both of these curriculums are biblically sound and are 4-year programs intended to be cycled through and be used for 1-12 grade - this will be perfect for teaching multiple kids at various levels at the same time.

Hendrick did a great job last year and we can't wait to work through the second year of Young Lives Academy! Davis and Burke also enjoy "learning along" with coloring pages, legos, and read-alouds. Pre-school is coming for them just around the corner....

Why We Home School

We believe God has given us, as parents, the authority and responsibility to teach and raise our children. These are God's children (we have been gifted with them), and as parents we have stewardship responsibility. God will hold us as parents accountable for what education our children receive (from teachers, books, media, or peers). Thankfully, in America, we have many choices regarding the schooling of our children: public school, private school, and home school. There is no one "right way" to educate a child and all can be used to glorify God.

Why We Home School:
For our family, Home School is how we have chosen to educate our children. We want to give our children the best start possible and we believe, for our family, home school is the best way to achieve this. Our primary goal is for our children to love God with all their heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). A solid education is a means to accomplish our goal, but it is not our ultimate goal. Academics are worthless if they are not used for God's glory - we home to prepare our children for whatever field God has called them.
(Home school is by no means the only way to achieve this, and we admire and respect the decisions of other Christian parents. It is so important as parents to seek God's direction and guidance for the schooling of our children - in our family, we felt called to home school. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful schooling options and the freedom to choose. There are certainly pros and cons to each educational route, however with God's assistance and proactive parents, each schooling option can be a blessing to the child and his future.)

Academics:
At home we will have the luxury of private tutoring combined with the advantages of a loving parent-child relationship. We will be able to encourage our children to work in areas which they have talent and help them master areas in which they are weak. We can custom-tailor academics to the needs of each child and have the freedom to chose curriculum to give our children the greatest success. Homeschooling allows the flexibility to take education out of the "classroom" and make it a fun experience with academics disguised as "play". Teaching our own children is incredibly gratifying! We hope to instill a life-long love of learning, and encourage our children to be independent, self-disciplined, and hard-working.
Family:
Homeschooling helps to build close relationships within the family - we can learn, grow, and experience together as a family unit. Older children can help to teach their siblings (the best way to learn is to teach). We will be able to help our children learn appropriate socialization skills while walking "with wise men" and not "fools" (Proverbs 13:20). We will have opportunities to volunteer together and enter the mission field together. Our family life will benefit from the flexibility of schedule homeschooling allows. We can teach our children in a loving and affirming atmosphere with plenty of opportunities for extra hugs and kisses.
Religion:
School can be used to Glorify God and build godly characters. We can teach what God has done (Exodus 13:8-13), and teach God's laws diligently to our children (Deuteronomy 6:7). We can give our children a firm Christian foundation and use Christ-centered curriculum.
I have no greater joy that this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. III John 1:4

Roanoke Island

Mike and the bigs took a day out of the OBX trip to visit Roanoke Island and Cape Hatteras National Shoreline. What a great chance to do some hands-on school activities!

On Roanoke, we took in the North Carolina aquarium (free thanks to our Memphis Zoo membership) - the exhibits all focused on the marine life of Eastern Carolina and the adjacent ocean. We also hopped over to the Roanoke Island Festival Park to explore the settlement village (think: Williamsburg, VA), restored 1700's ship, and Adventure Kids' Museum. The boys' most vivid memory here will be learning all about Blackbeard and the pirate problem of the early 1700's.

On the way back to the beach house, we detoured down Cape Hatteras National Shoreline and took in the Bodie (pronounced "BOD-ee") Island lighthouse and museum. The park service has done a wonderful restoration job and the kids were fascinated by learning why lighthouses are even needed.

OBX 2009

Mike, Hendrick, and Davis enjoyed a fun week at the Outer Banks in NC last week with Amy's family. Amy couldn't travel due to her advanced belly state, and the littles were kept home to ensure our chicken pox didn't spread. Amy's family was very generous to house us at the beach for a week!
Hendrick was the water-lover of the crew...it was hard to get him out of the water at all. Davis was a tad scared of the loud waves and was contented by making sand castles with Grandma. The boys also enjoyed catching crabs in the sound, playing with their cousins, chasing ghost crabs on the beach at night, and lots of salt water taffy!

First of Many...

On the way home from North Carolina, Hendrick bravely told Daddy in the hotel, "I want you to pull my tooth out now." I had been hoping to use the string and doorknob method, but I suppose a finger extraction worked just as well. We are very proud of our courageous kid and wish he would quit growing up so fast.

In Bloom - 32 Weeks

Favorite Things: Cloth Diapers

We are LOVING our cloth diapers. Our very favorites are the One-Size Organic Bum Genius with Snaps. The colors are so much fun, they are snug fitting and fairly trim, the organic cotton is super soft against the skin, they absorb a ton, have a waterproof outer layer, and wash wonderfully (and the snaps should last forever). Since these are "one-size", they can adjust to fit babies 7-35 pounds...so we should be able to use the same diaper for the entire diaper wearing years.
Maegli is set and we are currently stocking up to be ready for the new baby!

A portent of the future?

slightly tired

The Littles

Pass the Mark

Praise God, we are past 31 weeks!!!! After Davis' early arrival at 31 weeks, this is always a point of worry in recent pregnancies...our goal is always to make it well past this point! We trust God will protect this little one, and we are praying for at least 5 more weeks of in-utero growth.

Potty Party

We have been working hard to encourage Davis in his pottying. But, while we were occupied with that, Burke (our 2-1/2 year-old) decided he was ready....and started taking himself to the potty. We are shocked, thrilled, and so proud that our Burke now wears big boy underwear and goes potty by himself! Woo hoo! This was too easy - we didn't even "potty train"! He was ready!

X 2

2 cases of Chickenpox +
2 double Ear Infections +
2 Fevers +
2 cases of minor Pneumonia =

July Media Recommendations

Mike:
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (audio CD) by J.K. Rowling, Performed by Jim Dale
What a voice on this guy! Jim Dale does another masterful job in the 6th installment of the Harry Potter series. Rowling, as usual, delivers another great story as Harry and Dumbledore search for clues on how to defeat Lord Voldemort. Yes, it's a pre-teen series, but if you approach it expecting that genre, then you will enjoy the story-telling.
(We love listening to Audio Books as a family, we're curious if the 6th installment of the Harry Potter movie series is a great as the book...)

Amy:
Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block
This is a provocative and controversial book which I highly recommend to anyone pregnant, considering pregnancy, or who is interested in women's health care. This well-researched book takes a deep look into the state of maternity care in the U.S. which is very highly medically managed (and how it came to be this way). The book is loaded with interviews, statistics, and eye-witness accounts which can be shocking and a bit overwhelming. I have been reading a lot in preparation of this birth (I strongly believe birth is not a medical emergency, but a beautiful process designed by God). It is so important to know what to expect, know your options, know your rights, educate yourself and feel empowered to "push" back if necessary.

Kids:
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Hendrick is reading up a storm! His latest favorite is "Nate the Great" - the adventures of a boy detective who gathers the facts, solves the mystery... and likes pancakes! There is a whole series of over twenty "Nate the Great" books - we look forward to many more!

Chickens?

Two of our boys may be turning into chickens...we suspect Hendrick and Davis have the Chickenpox! At first we thought poor Hendrick had bug bites (he is awfully sweet), but then we realized they've spread! And, Davis has them too! This is not something we expected to deal with this early...and what about Burke and Maegli? (they've obviously been exposed).
We just hope and pray we all get over this itchiness before our vacation to the beach.

In Bloom - 30 Weeks

My Work

Hendrick has a job..."This is my work". On his own accord, Hendrick started making bead necklaces ("it's really hard work!")and has decided he will make three each day, to give to family and friends. Our entrepreneur is even talking about selling his creations...that's one way to fill up the piggy bank!
So, if you are in the market for an original Hendrick bead necklace creation, let us know...

Happy 4th

To celebrate the 4th we spent a fun morning at our neighborhood beach. The kids loved splashing in the warm water and jumping after the baby bluegills swimming near the shore. Burke again displayed a serious proclivity for aquatic daring, continuously jumping off the diving platform in the deep water! Daddy had fun taking turns with each of the kids in the "deepness," as Hendrick coined anything over 4 feet deep.

Knee High...

...By Fourth of July
We grew up hearing that saying in the Midwest...I guess it doesn't apply to Tennessee Corn!